A Letter from the Stagebridge Staff | May 2022
At our weekly staff meeting, we spent some time reflecting on the horrific and senseless tragedy in Texas, the young lives lost, and our collective frustration with a system that continues to harm the public.
The Stagebridge staff, as with many others, found it difficult to continue with our daily work and lives this week, but we found hope and joy in the creative collaborations you inspire and wanted to share our thoughts with you.
“This is why I’m thankful for Stagebridge: we can celebrate life in the face of adversity and loss. Our programs, our classes and our events give space to congratulate each other’s triumphs and support each other through trials and tribulations,” said Barbara Johnson, Outreach and Seniors Reaching Out Coordinator.
Stagebridge’s Performing Arts Institute Director, Lily Nguyen, reflected on our upcoming Performing Arts Camp and the return to in-person learning. “We are proud that we can continue to craft and curate the environments where people feel the freedom to express their joys, sorrows, hopes and fears—this expression that is so necessary in our lives, especially when tragedy occurs.”
Marketing and Communications Director Julius Rea exclaimed, “We are inspired by the power of community, ignited by the empathic beauty of performing arts. The ability to validate each other in the arts space allows all of us to validate and heal each other in our personal lives.”
While the Robb Elementary School community has been devastated by a unique yet familiar event, our staff recognized a few key truths for our community.
We recognize the importance of lifting up the victims of the shooting, their families, and their connection to their community.
We recognize that we see those victims in ourselves—in our friends, family members, teachers, students and colleagues.
We recognize the necessity of performing arts in healing every and any community across the world.
Amitis Rossoukh, Public Engagement Coordinator found inspiration in our efforts and commitment to creating opportunities and access for the most vulnerable members of our community.
“Throughout the pandemic, I helped our students access our programs online. We relaunched our scholarship program, and we connected people from across the country,” she said. “They learned together, cried together, and connected to each other—that’s how we heal.”
As the newest member of the Stagebridge family, Managing Director Elissa Glickman, was encouraged and inspired by this week’s Spring showcases.
“This week, I had an opportunity to see our students shine. Their magic resonated with me and was an important reminder that the performing arts can help repair the cracks in our lives. The storyteller weaves a narrative of belonging, the dancer connects us through movement, and the musician can wipe away our grief—if only for a moment.”
During this time, we encourage you to use your unique creative tools to express yourself and to invite others into cathartic and cleansing spaces. You have beautiful gifts, Stagebridgers. We want you to take every day and every moment to share them.
~The Stagebridge Staff: Elissa Glickman, Barbara Johnson, Lily Nguyen, Julius Rea & Amitis Rossoukh
A Letter From Shannon McDonnell | March 2022
Honestly, I have trouble even being able to put this down in writing because I love this community so deeply.
As of March 11, 2022, I will step down as the Executive Director of Stagebridge. While making an incredible rebound due to the loss of a legacy gift in 2021, our Stagebridge staff has restructured to support the next steps for the company.
During this transition, I, the Stagebridge staff, and the Board of Directors have found that finding a part-time Managing Director to support our community was the most important step forward.
Soon, you’ll meet Elissa Glickman and her fiery passion in uplifting artists and non-profit organizations like Stagebridge. Her competence and confidence will help Lily, Barbara, Amitis and Julius create a bold future for our community. I do not have the words to explain the work ethic, creativity, friendship and love of these people.
When preparing for this transition, I am heavy-hearted yet calm because there is so much to love here.
I am thankful to this community for teaching, supporting, challenging and uplifting me during the past few years, and I have every confidence in the staff that they will continue to care for Stagebridge as much as I do.
I am thankful for the Board of Directors who have shown so much bravery in changing our mission statement to reflect what lifelong learning truly looks like.
I am thankful for all the students who continue to push the boundaries of their mediums—even through Zoom.
I am thankful to our instructors for being the lifeblood of our organization.
And, I am thankful to Stagebridge itself for being my beacon and my home.
While I was overcoming health issues over the pandemic, I was continuously touched by the incredible outpouring of the personal support from the students, staff, instructors and Board of Directors.
The moments, classes, laughs, performances, friendships that have touched my soul are countless. As with everything that we create here, this is not a goodbye because the bridges that we make will last lifetimes.
I will continue my relationship with this community as an advocate, donor, and potential student. Join me in supporting our vision by visiting www.stagebridge.org/donate-now.
Thank you, Stagebridge, for giving me so much to be thankful for.
~Shannon McDonnell, Executive Director
Statement | November 2021
Throughout the pandemic, we have faced wall after wall, scaling each obstacle with grace and understanding because Stagebridge welcomes transformation.
We take retirees and turn them into artists; we have artists who become teachers and community leaders; and we lead community efforts to bring to life the stories and perspectives of lifelong learners.
And, unfortunately, we face yet another obstacle to overcome.
Due to a serious miscommunication on the part of an estate administrator, a promised Legacy Gift did not come through, resulting in a $200,000 budget deficit.
As a result, we have lost the financial security necessary to continue with all of our traditional programming. Thus, the Stagebridge Board of Directors and Staff must reallocate our resources and reorganize our internal processes.
For our students, we will continue with our Fall 2021 and Winter 2022 Performing Arts Institutes. Classes will not be affected. However, we will be pausing our Seniors Reaching Out and StoryBridge Programs.
Time and time again, we have come back from the brink. NOW, we can get the word out about Stagebridge like never before. Due to the generosity of some of our board members and kindest donors, we only need to raise $90,000 to keep our current staff and programs throughout 2022 and beyond.
With our staff curating classes designed with and for our returning students, we are attempting new methods to attract new students and to widen our doors more than ever. We refuse to see Stagebridge falter as we curate bold and interesting new opportunities for our students to prosper while inviting new students into the unique beauty of this community.
On behalf of all of us at Stagebridge, we wish you a happy and safe Thanksgiving with loved ones. Your support, your energy and your commitment make our lives better, and that is what drives us to move forward.
Warmly,
The Stagebridge Board of Directors & Staff
A Letter on Asian American & Pacific Islander Solidarity | APRIL 2021
On March 17, a 21-year-old white man’s violent and racist rampage in Atlanta resulted in the murders of six Asian American women, one white woman, and one white man.
And, while this event seems to have triggered an awareness around the recent wave of racist attacks against AAPI communities, it represents a problem that has consistently resurfaced in America for over a century.
White supremacy has the ability to turn a blind eye to attacks on communities of color, whether it be physical, financial, or systemic. These attacks usually become dismissed, hidden, or forgotten due to a lack of clear cross-cultural communication, understanding, and connection.
However, such is the unique power of Stagebridge.
Inside of our classes, programs, meetings, and events, the connective ability of performance arts and storytelling gives this community unbelievable tools to improve and teach the world. With that, Stagebridge will be making several organizational shifts to support and foster AAPI individuals, inside and outside of this community.
Firstly, we are developing our new Finding Ourselves in America storytelling series, which will highlight Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) voices through storytelling partnerships with artists from Oakland and beyond.
With FINDING OURSELVES IN AMERICA: ASIAN AMERICAN VOICES on Thursday, May 20, Stagebridge will partner with Asian American Storytellers in Unity to present 16 nationally-acclaimed storytellers from across the nation. Focused on the healing power of storytelling and narrative, these ethnically and geographically diverse artists will promote cross-cultural understanding responding to an unprecedented wave of anti-Asian sentiment in the modern age.
Secondly, we will continue to promote and invite new BIPOC instructors into the Performing Arts Institute—with a focus on finding AAPI voices to help broaden the spectrum of students’ worldview.
Lastly, the Stagebridge Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Committee will meet regularly to address issues inside our community regarding racism, equity, and accessibility. Additionally, this group will assist in developing a new equity-focused action plan for Stagebridge as a whole.
So, we are not just making a call to action for those outside of our immediate circles. We are making a call to action for our family, friends, and community members.
We ask you to join us to end indifference, hatred, and intolerance.
In honor of Xiaojie Tan, Daoyou Feng, Hyun Jung Grant, Soon Chung Park, Suncha Kim, Yong Ae Yue, and all the victims of white supremacist violence, we denounce all attacks and hatred centered against our AAPI communities and we commit to addressing racism by creating programs that uplift and honor BIPOC voices.
~Stagebridge Staff (Lily Nguyen, Julius Rea, Clara Kamunde and Shannon McDonnell) & Board Member Eleanor Clement Glass
For resources on how to learn about and support AAPI communities around the Bay Area, please look over the following links and resources.
LINKS
Supporting AAPI Communities Resource List (Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy): aapip.org/what-we-do/supporting-api-communities-resource-directory/view-all-resources
#StopAAPIHate: stopaapihate.org
#StopAAPIHate (Info Sheet): dropbox.com/s/l55gswobr7f11ef/Stop%20AAPI%20Hate%202021.pdf?dl=0
Asian Americans Advocating Justice (Hate Crime Tracker): standagainsthatred.org
How to Report a Hate Crime: hatecrimebook.com
Learn about Asian American history: pbs.org/show/asian-americans
Learn about Model Minority Myth: learningforjustice.org/magazine/what-is-the-model-minority-myth
hollaback! (Harassment & Bystander Training): ihollaback.org
Asian Mental Health Collective: asianmhc.org
Chinatown Community Development Center: chinatowncdc.org/support-us/ways-to-give
Asian Art Museum: asianart.org/
RESOURCES & ORGANIZATIONS
Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Asian Law Caucus
The mission of Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Asian Law Caucus is to promote, advance, and represent the legal and civil rights of API communities. Recognizing that social, economic, political and racial inequalities continue to exist in the United States, Advancing Justice – Asian Law Caucus is committed to the pursuit of equality and justice for all sectors of our society with a specific focus directed toward addressing the needs of low-income, immigrant, and underserved APIs.
For more information: 415 896-1701 or visit advancingjustice-alc.org/contact-us/
Asian Pacific Environmental Network (APEN)
APEN focuses on Asian immigrant and refugee communities. APEN strives to bring fundamental changes to economic and social institutions that will prioritize good over profit, and promote the right of every person to a decent, safe, affordable quality of life, and the right to participate in decisions affecting their lives. Network Mission Statement is as follows: All people have a right to a clean and healthy environment in which their communities can live, work, learn, play and thrive. Towards this vision, APEN brings together a collective voice to develop an alternative agenda for environmental, social and economic justice.
For more information: 510 834-8920 or visit apen4ej.org
Asian Pacific Islander Legal Outreach
The recent surge in incidents of anti-Asian hate violence are part of the large systemic issues that API Legal Outreach has been trying to fight since its inception. Founded in 1975, the mission of API Legal Outreach is to provide culturally competent and linguistically appropriate legal representation, social services, and advocacy for the most marginalized segments of the community including low-income women, seniors, recent immigrants, and youth.
For more information: 415 567-6255 or visit apilegaloutreach.org
Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council
The Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council (A3PCON) is a coalition of community-based organizations that advocates for the rights and needs of the Asian and Pacific Islander American (APIA) Community in the greater Los Angeles area, with a particular focus on low income, immigrant, refugee and other disadvantaged sectors of the population.
For more information: 213 239-000 or visit asianpacificpolicyandplanningcouncil.org
Compassion In Oakland (CIN) provides the Oakland Chinatown Community with a resource for promoting safety and community. CIN’s aim is to embrace the often forgotten, underserved, and vulnerable. CIN promotes compassion not indifference, unity as opposed to divisiveness. Their goal is to foster more caring and safer Oakland for all.
For more information: 510 200-8682 or e-mail info@compassioninoakland.org
Oakland Asian Cultural Center (OACC)
OACC is a member of the Oakland Chinatown Coalition, which “works for a strong, vibrant and healthy future for our neighborhood” by engaging in several different issues important to the community through monthly meetings and special projects. The Coalition was founded in 2011, consists of seventeen organizations and five individual members. OACC’s participation in the Chinatown Coalition demonstrates our commitment to cross-sector collaboration and the mutual goal of enhancing the vitality and stability of Chinatown.
For more information: 510 637-0455 or visit oacc.cc
Oakland Chinatown Community Development Center (CCDC) Feed + Fuel Program
The Feed + Fuel Chinatown mission is to address the resurging needs of Chinatown businesses and residents living in Single Room Occupancy hotels (SROs). In partnership with SF New Deal, CCDC seeks to provide 300,000 meals to Chinatown SRO residents over a 15-week period, using up to 70 Chinatown based restaurants. Cost projection for this project is $3.5M.
For more information: 415 984-1462 or e-mail donate@chinatowncdc.org.
Chinese Progressive Association
Founded in 1972, the Chinese Progressive Association educates, organizes and empowers the low income and working class immigrant Chinese community in San Francisco to build collective power with other oppressed communities to demand better living and working conditions and justice for all people.
For more information: 415 391-6986 or visit cpasf.org
East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation (EBALDC)
(EBALDC) is a non-profit community development organization with over 45 years of experience in building healthy, vibrant and safe neighborhoods in Oakland and East Bay. We address the specific needs of individual neighborhoods by connecting the essential elements of health and wellbeing through our Healthy Neighborhoods Approach. EBALDC builds upon the assets unique to each community to inform and establish thoughtful partnerships that will address the social factors impacting a neighborhood’s health and wellbeing.
For more information: 415 391-6986 or visit ebaldc.org
Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy (AAPIP)
AAPIP is a national membership organization dedicated to expanding and mobilizing philanthropic and community resources for underserved AAPI communities to build a more just and equitable society. AAPIP’s programs include a range of convening, research and advocacy, community philanthropy/Giving Circles and other incubation projects.
For more information: (510) 463-3155 or visit aapip.org
A Letter on Solidarity | June 2020
Stagebridge is committing to advancing the economic stability, political voice, and personal safety of Black and Brown people in addition to all bodies suppressed, victimized or murdered by any extension of white supremacy.
Stagebridge is thankful that we have an energetic community ready for introspection and change—as our performance classes teach moment-to-moment.
For the past three years, we have made efforts to support Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) by hiring six instructors of color since Fall 2018. Additionally, we have been building connections with senior communities with less resources such as the West Oakland Senior Center.
In late 2019, we established a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee to plan to break new ground in Stagebridge’s policies, enrollment and community engagement. The committee will continue its work moving into our Summer 2020 Performing Arts Institute session.
Still, we need to expand our efforts even further to strengthen Stagebridge’s community impact. We are committed to the following reforms and actions for our organization:
· We will modify our curriculum and class schedules to include more Black and Brown instructors to share their craft and to be supported financially. There will be an active push for the connection between restorative / healing arts to support well-being and health. This will begin with our Fall 2020 Performing Arts Institute Session.
· We will offer a selection of free classes for newcomers to meet our community where they are financially. This will begin with our Fall 2020 Performing Arts Institute Session.
· We will alter our scholarship policies to incorporate more resources for Black and Brown students to join and to continue participation in our programs, to go into effect by Fall 2020.
· We will update our code of conduct policy to reflect a need of honest and earnest racial discourse, to go into effect by Fall 2020.
· We will train our Board of Directors and instructors to properly identify and address the tenets of white supremacist systems, white privilege, and microaggressions to help inform our other active changes. With the formation of our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee in 2019, we raised $6,000 to obtain training on these subjects from StirFry Consulting with diversity trainer Lee Mun Wah.
Finally, for the Summer 2020 session, we are offering a short 6-week session comprised of both well-loved classes and brand-new classes most malleable on an online platform. New classes focus on improving mental health, reducing stress, and connecting with theatre arts in joyful ways.
All of this leads to a higher standard of community engagement including adhering to a stronger list of community guidelines protecting vulnerable bodies.
We will not accept anyone, inside or outside of Stagebridge, to suffer from the weight of racist and inequitable policies and values that have led to universal inequity and death.
Still, we are aware that this work begins with us.
With that, our final commitment is an invitation for open dialogue. We invite our students, returning and prospective, to center BIPOC individuals in discussion to listen and learn like never before. With accountability and honest discourse, Stagebridge will help hold our community up when discussing race and privilege.
Join this discussion and change by reviewing some resources we have collected for those wishing to learn more about the structures we are combating. This also includes ways to redirect money and economic power to Black and Brown businesses in the Bay Area.
Stagebridge proudly stands with the actions of the Black Lives Matter movement, recently inspired by the death of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Nina Pop, Ahmaud Arbery, Tony McDade, and all people whose lives were murdered due to white supremacist violence.
And, most importantly, we are ready for the discourse necessary to improve everyone single person’s way of life.
~Stagebridge Staff
Barbara Johnson, Community Outreach Coordinator
Clara Kamunde, Director of Storytelling & Storybridge Programs
Shannon McDonnell, Executive Director
Lily Nguyen, Director of Performing Arts Institute and Seniors Reaching Out
Julius Rea, Marketing and Communications Manager
For more information on resources on how to support Black & Brown businesses or how to learn about systematic racism, please sign up for our digital newsletter or look at the links below.
• If you identify as White, take any one of these 75 actions for racial justice
• Take actions to support George Floyd
• Attend healing and grieving sessions
• Review former President Obamaʼs list of actions, readings, and organizations to support
• Read Black revolutionary texts
• Take one of the BLM supported actions
• Learn about a national social change organization located in Oakland
• Support a Black-owned bookstore and Black-owned businesses
• Support local organizations committed to uplifting underserved communities:
ii. People’s Breakfast Oakland